Burner



Feb. 22, 1966 A. J. GIOLDSZMID BURNER Filed June 25, 1963 INVENTOR I GOLI ZMLD ATTORNEY- United States Patent Office 3,236,072 Patented Feb. 22, 1966 3,236,072 BURNER Angel Jacobo Goldszmid, 833 Gascon St., Buenos Aires, Argentina Filed June 25, 1963, Ser. No. 290,435 9 Claims. (Cl. 6753) This invention relates to a burner having means for accurately controlling the size of the flame and preferably refers to a wick burner which may be used with substantially any gasifiable liquid fuel. More particularly, the wick burner according to the present invention is preferably used to imitate candles.

Since the preferred embodiment of the invention is a wick burner, reference will mainly be made thereto although, as will be later seen, it is possible to use other types of embodiments.

Known wick burners for producing light and/ or heat have the drawback that the flame cannot be accurately controlled, because the longer the burner operates, the more the fuel gasifying zone, where the liquid fuel is gasifled, increases, and thereby the production of gasified fluid; the consequence is, that it becomes diflicult to maintain the size of the flame constant. If such a burner is housed within a burning chamber having a maximum predesigned supply of oxygen, it often happens that the flame starts to produce smoke, which is inadmissible.

So as to overcome these drawbacks, a burner has been conceived which enables to maintain a constant production of gasified fluid and thereby a constant size of flame.

The burner consists in a preferred embodiment of a wick which is at least partially housed in a tubular heat insulating member, such as a glass tube. The glass tube is preferably open at both ends, so that one of the ends may either be housed in a liquid fuel tank or connected to supply means of a liquid fuel tank, which the other end defines the gasifying zone and since said last mentioned end is open, it may be easily lit.

Usually, the wick end is flush with the tubular glass end, although this is not a fundamental requirement. When this end is lit, then the flame will start to heat the tubular member adjacent to its end portion and store heat therein, so that the pertinent end portion of the Wick is maintained at a sufficiently high temperature in order to gasify the fuel therein. As the operation continues, heat will progress along the tubular glass member and thereby increase the size of the gasifying zone, which eventually would produce an uncontrollable excessively large size of flame. To avoid this, the gasifying zone of the tubular member is in heat transmission relationship with a heat transmission member, such as a copper tube surrounding said tubular glass member. Said copper tube will absorb part of the heat of the glass member and dissipate it, so that an equilibrium may be reached, whereby the height of the gasifying zone is maintained constant and as a consequence, the size of the flame is likewise maintained constant. Since either the tubular glass member with the wick or the copper member may be moved, one with regard to the other, the heat transmission coeflicient between the glass member and the copper member may be controlled at will.

Although this is one preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that the principle may be used with different embodiments, such as instead of using a Wick housed in a glass tube, any porous, preferably incornbusti'ble material may be used and if said material is self-sustaining, then the tubular glass member may become superfluous provided that the porous material, for instance a rod-shaped porous ceramic material, which would be a core member, has heat storing properties on the surface defining the gasifying zone.

Like in the wick burner above described, also in this type of burner the core member should be in heat transmitting relationship with a heat transmission member. If the core member has a longitudinal slot, then the heat transmission member could be tin-shaped, entering at least partially in said slot.

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a burner which enables to maintain a constant size of flame.

A further object is to provide a wick burner, wherein the wick is divided into two sections, so that the actual burner portion may be easily replaced.

A still further object is to provide a wick burner, wherein the size of the flame may be controlled at will.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wick burner for imitating a candle which in relationship to an ordinary candle of the same size provides a considerable larger burning time without requiring a refill of the tank, which is defined by the hollow candle member itself.

These and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent during the following description wherein, by way of example, reference has been made to several preferred embodiments.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially in section, of a candle including the wick burner, according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section of the upper portion of the candle, in a larger scale, of the preferred embodiment of the wick burner, as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a spider forming part of the burner.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a distributor star, with the wick member shown in section, and the top portion removed,

FIG. 5 is a somewhat schematic, perspective, exploded view of a detail of another embodiment of the wick burner.

FIG. 6 is a cross section through still another embodiment of a tubular member housing the wick.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view-of a detail of a further type of burner, according to the present invention.

As may be seen in FIG. 1, the burner may form part of an imitation candle 1 having a foot 2 in which the candle as such may either be stationarily or removably housed. The candle defines, by means of a tubular mem her, a tank 3, the top portion 3' '(FIG. 2) of which supports the actual wick burner 4.

As may be better seen in FIG. 2, the wick burner 4 consists of an annulus 5 which is press-fitted into the top portion 3' and comprises an upper internally screw threaded portion 6 and a lower spider supporting portion 7 defining between both an annular platform 8; thus the upper internally screw threaded portion 6 is of larger inner diameter than the lower spider supporting portion 7.

A spider 9 (see also FIG. 3) having a central ring member 10, from which three legs 11 project is integral with the lower spider supporting portion 7. Since the annulus 5 is well spaced apart from the combustion zone, the former is preferably made of plastic material.

In this embodiment, the wick is divided into two separate members, which may be made of cotton, asbestos or the like; one of said members is used for supplying the fuel and the second forms part of the actual burner 4. Thus, since the first wick member is never subject to heat, it does not require replacement and therefore the candle 1 with the tank 3 and the first wick member 12 together with the annulus 5 defines a unity.

Each thread member 12' of the first wick member 12 is hung on the ring 10 (FIG. 3) so that the two free end portions of each thread member 12' define the lower end portions of the first wick member 1-2, where prefenably a 3 small weight 13 (FIG. 1) hangs. The weight 13 is to assure that the lower end portion of the wick is housed within the bottom portion of tank 3. Of course, instead of using such a weight 13, the same effect can be achieved by using a wick member which is substantially longer than the height of tank 3.

Although in FIG. 3 only two thread members 12' are shown to avoid overburdening of the drawing, in practice there are as many thread members as are able to pass through the perforation of the ring 10, each of which describes the curve, as shown by the two thread members 12'.

If a still better distribution is desired on the top of ring 10, it is possible to arrange on the top surface of said ring 10, a distributor star 14, so that instead of dividing the distribution into three sections by legs 11, the distributor star 14 divides the wick threads 12' into for instance six zones.

If desired, a knot (not shown) may be made with the wick below the ring 10 to better immobilize the distributor star 14. The first wick member 12 defines on the top of the ring 10 a first wick platform 15, to which reference will be made later on.

There is a second wick member 16 housed in a tubular heat insulating member 17, preferably made of glass, said second wick member 16 having a first end portion 16 which is preferably flush with the top end portion 17' of the tubular member 17 and a second end portion 16" which projects out of the lower end of the tubular member 17 and is adapted to enter in good contact with the first wick platform 15. The lower end of the tubular member 17 defines an outwardly projecting annular foot 17", which forms a backing member for the second end portions 16", forming thus a second wick platform 16" which contacts said first wick platform 15. The top face of said annular foot 17" supports a sealing disclike gasket 18, the peripherical portion of which abuts on the platform 8. A washer 19, having a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the lower spider supporting portion 7, is likewise mounted on the tubular member 17 on said sealing disc-like gasket 18. Said washer 19 acts as a centering device for said tubular member 17.

A helical compression spring 20 is mounted on said tubular member 17 and has one end abutting on said washer 19, while the other end abuts against a step 21 formed in a cap 22. The cap 22 has an outer screw threaded portion 23 meshing with said upper internally screw threaded portion 6. As may be seen in FIG. 2, the upper end of said screw threaded portion 6, which likewise is the top end portion of the annulus 5, is located below the top end of the top portion 3'. Furthermore, since the outer screw threaded portion 23 of the cap 22 continues in a smooth portion 24, even if the height of the cap is changed with regard to the top portion 3', there is always an impression of continuity.

The upper portion of the cap 22 supports a heat transmission member, which in this embodiment is a tubular copper member 25, the inner diameter of which is slightly larger than the outer diameter of said tubular glass member 17. Preferably, the lower end portion of the copper member 25 is outwardly flared so as to facilitate the insertion of the top end portion 17' of said tubular glass member 17, during assembly. It is convenient for good heat dissipation, that the width of the wall of the cap 22 is reduced to a minimum at least in the upper portion supporting said copper member 25 and preferably the copper member 25 should project out of the cap 22, although this is not a fundamental requirement.

Once the cap 22 is screwed into the threaded portion 6, the spring 20 will urge said second wick platform 16" onto the first wick platform 15, at the same time as there is a sealing contact established between the sealing gasket 18 and the platform 8, so that even if the candle 1 is inadvertently toppled over, there is no spilling of the liquid fuel.

To fill the tank 3, the Wick burner 4 is withdrawn, so that fuel may be filled into the tank 3 through the spaces existing between the legs 11.

For lighting, it is advisable toscrew the cap 22 down in an amount suflicient to allow the first end portion 16', together with the top end portion 17, to project out of the cap 22. Once the burner is lit, it will start to heat the top end portion 17' of the tubular member 17 and thereby stores heat in the glass member 17, so that gasification of the liquid fuel is immediately produced.

As the combustion continues, the cap 22 together with the tubular copper member 25 is moved upwardly towards the top end port-ion 17', so that the excessive heat accumulated by the glass tubular member 17 in the gasifying zone is withdrawn by the copper member 25.

Thus, an extremely fine regulation of the size of the flame is achieved, at the same time as said size is maintained constant.

In this embodiment, the tubular member 17 is stationary and the copper member 25 is movable along the stationary member 17.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the roles have been inverted. The tubular copper member is stationary and has a slot 126 through which projects a rack 127 of tubular member 117. Tubular member 117 is slidably arranged within the heat transmitting member 125 and is position controlled by means of a gear 128 meshing with rack 127 and mounted on a shaft 129. Upon rotating shaft 129, the tubular heat insulating member 117 will be moved within the heat transmitting member 125. Here the wick 130 is a single wick which is the combination of wicks 12 and 16 of the previously described embodiment. This is merely to demonstrate that it is not a fundamental requirement to have the wick made in two separate members, as is shown in the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4.

In FIG. 6, the tubular heat insulating member 217 houses again the wick member 216, but there is a central tubular member 231, which enables the supply of additional oxygen, particularly suitable if the burner is to be used for generating heat, so that a flame may be produced which has an increased heating power.

In FIG. 7, another way of performing the invention has been shown, wherein a refractory porous stem 332 replaces the wick. Since the stem 332. may be made for instance of a ceramic material, it becomes self-sustaining and thereby the tubular member 17 becomes superfluous, as far as the supporting role for the wick is concerned. Since the ceramic material of which stem 332 is made may even be provided with an outer layer 333 of good heat insulating properties, the tubular member 17 becomes completely superfluous.

In order to show that it is not a fundamental requirement that the heat transmission member is a tubular member which surrounds the wick with its heat insulating supporting member, in the embodiment of FIG. 7 a copper fin 334 is used which may either be moved in the directions as shown by double arrow 335 or by double arrow 336 within the slot 337, to vary the heat transmission coefficient. Obviously, instead of providing just a single fin 334, a number of fins in a pertinent number of slots may be used.

If desired, a combined movement of those shown by double arrows 335 and 336 for the fin or the stem, can likewise be used.

Although copper has been mentioned as the material to be used for the heat transmitting member, this is no way limitative, since obviously other suitable materials could be employed.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art, that it is possible to provide a number of modifications within the spirit of the present invention, as long as they fall within the scope of the appendant claim-s.

I claim:

1. A burner comprising a fuel supply member having an inner fuel conv-eying portion and an outer heat insulating portion, said fuel supply member having a first end portion and a second end portion, said first end portion defining a gasifying zone, said second end portion defining a fuel inlet, a heat transmitting member in heat transmitting relationship with said insulating portion of said fuel supply member substantially within the range of said gasifying zone, at least one of said members being movable with regard to the other so as to vary the area of said members which are in heat transmission relationship and thereby vary the heat transmission coefficient between said gasifying zone and said heat transmitting member for flame controlling purposes.

2. A wick burner having a wick at least partially housed in a tubular heat insulating member, said wick having a first end portion and a second end portion, said first end portion defining a gasifying zone, said second end portion defining a fuel inlet, a heat transmitting member in heat transmitting relationship with said tubular member substantially within the range of said gasifying zone, at least one of said members being movable with regard to the other, to vary the area of said members which are in heat transmission relationship and thereby vary the heat transmission coefficient between said gasi fying zone and said heat transmitting member for flame controlling purposes.

3. A Wick burner having a tank, a first wick member housed in said tank and defining a first wick platform, a second wick member having a first end portion and a second end portion, said second wick member being housed in a tubular heat insulating member having a top end portion and an annular foot portion, said first end portion of said second wick member being substantially flush with said top end portion of said tubular member, said second end portion of said second wick member projecting out of said annular foot portion and defining therewith a second wick platform, said second wick platform being in fuel contact transmitting relationship with said first wick platform, said first end portion of said second wick member and said top end portion of said tubular heat insulating member defining a gasifying zone, a heat transmitting tubular member surrounding in heat transmitting relationship, within the range of said gasifying zone, said tubular heat insulating member, said heat transmitting member being slidably arranged along said tubular heat insulating member to vary the area of said members which are in heat transmission relationship and thereby vary the heat transmission coefiicient between said gasifying zone and said heat transmitting member {for flame controlling purposes.

4. The wick burner as claimed in claim 3, wherein said heat transmitting tubular member is mounted in a cap, said tank having a top portion, said cap being screwed into said top portion, a spring surrounding said tubular heat insulating member and in abutting contact with said annular foot and said cap thereby pressing said second wick platform on said first wick platform.

5. The Wick burner as claimed in claim 4, wherein a sealing disc-like gasket is mounted on said tubular heat insulating member and in abutting contact with said annular foot, said top portion of said tank defining an annular platform, the peripherical portion of said sealing disclike gasket being in sealing contact with said annular platform, a washer of smaller cross-sectional area than the platform and capable of entering within the space defined by said platform, said washer being mounted on top of said sealing disc-like gasket, said spring abutting against said washer and said cap.

6. The wick burner as claimed in claim 4, wherein said heat transmitting tubular member projects out of said cap.

7. The Wick burner as claimed in claim 2, wherein an additional tubular member defines a core, said wick being mounted on said core and said tubular heat insulating member surrounding said wick, said additional tubular member being provided for supplying additional oxygen to said first end portion of said wick.

8. The wick burner as claimed in claim 3, wherein said tank has a top portion, an annulus comprising a spider and a ring fit in said top portion, said ring hangingly supporting said first Wick member and defining therewith said first wick platform.

9. The wick burner as claimed in claim 8, wherein a distributor star is mounted on said ring and cooperates in the formation of said first wick platform.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 94,707 9/ 1869 Boyd 67-53 295,332 3/1884 Baumeister 67-55 329,589 11/1885 Painter 67-53 372,869 11/1887 Seery 67-53 813,940 2/1906 Bentote 67-55 1,360,387 11/1920 Fisher 67-55 2,208,279 7/ 1940 Powers 67-70 2,301,453 11/1942 Reich 67-53 X 2,512,885 6/ 1950 Archambeau 67-55 2,774,235 12/1956 Reutz 67-53 3,036,452 5/1962 Renwick et a1 67-80 X 3,169,387 2/ 1965 Cordillo 67-55 FOREIGN PATENTS 109,133 1917 Great Britain.

FREDERICK L. MATTESON, 111., Primary Examiner. EDWARD J. MICHAEL, Examiner,

r M. L. BATES, Assistant Examiner, 

1. A BURNER COMPRISING A FUEL SUPPLY MEMBER HAVING AN INNER FUEL CONVEYING PORTION AND AN OUTER HEAT INSULATING PORTION, SAID FUEL SUPPLY MEMBER HAVING A FIRST END PORTION AND A SECOND END PORTION, SAID FIRST END PORTION DEFINING A GASIFYING ZONE, SAID SECOND END PORTION DEFINING A FUEL INLET, A HEAT TRANSMITTING MEMBER IN HEAT TRANSMITTING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID INSULATING PORTION OF SAID FUEL SUPPLY MEMBER SUBSTANTIALLY WITHIN THE RANGE OF SAID GASIFYING ZONE, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID MEMBERS BEING MOVABLE WITH REGARD TO THE OTHER SO AS TO VARY THE AREA OF SAID MEMBERS WHICH ARE IN HEAT TRANSMISSION RELATIONSHIP AND THEREBY VARY THE HEAT TRANSMISSION COEFFICIENT BETWEEN SAID GASIFYING ZONE AND SAID HEAT TRANSMITTING MEMBER FOR FLAME CONTROLLING PURPOSES. 